SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Inglewood man was convicted today of pimping, falsely imprisoning, and assaulting a victim of human trafficking until she escaped from his moving vehicle as he repeatedly punched and bit her.

Defendant: Keland Scott Coleman, 30, Inglewood

Found guilty by a jury on Oct. 4, 2018, of the following felony counts:

False imprisonment

Human trafficking

Pimping

Pandering

Criminal threats

Assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury

Sentencing Enhancements Found True

Prior felony convictions:

Possession of contraband in a correctional facility in San Bernardino in 2006

Possession of a firearm during criminal street gang activity in Los Angeles in 2009 and 2011

Coleman is a human trafficker/pimp who exploits women for financial gain. Pimps often establish rigid rules that their victims are expected to follow including requiring victims to speak only when spoken to, address the pimp as “Sir” or “Daddy,” assigning seats in the car based on “rank,” and setting daily quotas that the victims are expected to fulfill. The victims are required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp. Failure to follow these rules can result in deprivation of food and/or physical and/or emotional abuse.

Circumstances of the Case

Between 2016 and 2018, Coleman trafficked, pimped, and pandered 27-year-old Jane Doe by arranging for the victim to engage in commercial sex for his benefit.

The defendant set a quota and kept all money the victim received from sex purchasers.
Coleman physically and verbally assaulted the victim on multiple occasions, including punching the victim in the face and preventing her from seeking medical attention.

The defendant threatened Jane Doe’s life and the safety of her family. He maintained control over the victim’s personal belongings, including identification documents.

On May 9, 2018, Coleman drove erratically down Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim and repeatedly punched and struck Jane Doe in the vehicle.

Coleman pulled Jane Doe back in and bit her on the arm as she tried to escape by opening the passenger door.

When Jane Doe jumped out of the car and rolled on to the curb, the defendant fled the scene.

Two witnesses who had been driving behind Coleman’s vehicle stopped to assist the victim and called 911.

The Anaheim Police Department (APD) responded and investigated this case.

Coleman was arrested in Los Angeles approximately one hour after the assault for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Members of the OCHTTF and the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office work proactively to protect women and minors from falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation. This case was investigated by OCHTTF, a partnership between Anaheim Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Costa Mesa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Irvine Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department, OCDA, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and community and non-profit partners.